Description
Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis
Habit: Pyramidal
Mature Height: 40 to 55 feet
Mature Width: 15 to 25 feet
Soil: Acidic, Sandy Loam, Well-drained
Light: Full to Part Sun
Growth Rate: Moderate, 12-24’/year
Landscape Value: Great as an ornamental tree and in rain gardens, meadows and naturalized areas. Good as a windbreak or screen. Makes a good Christmas tree.
A densely branched, conical evergreen tree valued for its distinctively conical habit of growth. It has gray-brown bark and soft, dark green to bluish fragrant needles. The smooth gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape. Male cones are produced first, followed by female cones that mature into erect seed cones. Seed cones are grey-purple, ripening to brown with age. Trees break bud later than other firs, thus are less susceptible to damage from late spring frosts. Very cold hardy. Tolerates wet soil better than other firs. Does not tolerate heavy clay soil or urban pollution. Seeds are eaten by songbirds, ground birds, and small mammals, especially red squirrels.
Origin: Canaan fir is not native to CT. It was first identified from a limited area in West Virginia called the Canaan Valley. It is currently not considered a separate species but is an ecotype of Balsam Fir, having unique characteristics due to environmental factors.
Note: This year we are offering potted conifer seedlings rather than plugs or bare-root seedlings. Potted seedlings have a larger root mass than plugs and do not require immediate planting.
Potted conifer seedling: pots are 3.5″ x 3.5″ x 5″ deep, seedlings are 5-10″ tall
Photo credits:
iNaturalist (photo by David Malloch)
Purdue University Arboretum
